Jefferson Parish Sheriff's arrests man for 30-year-old rape

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has arrested a Waggaman
man for raping a child 30 years ago while the suspect was babysitting the victim and two other children. Authorities booked Daniel
Parks Sr., 61, of 125 Evergold
Lane, with aggravated rape, possession of firearm
with a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous
substance on Aug. 17. Parks was arrested at home where authorities also seized
several firearms and about 14 grams of marijuana, said Col. John Fortunato, a
sheriff's spokesman.

Investigators received a report of the rape on July 24 from
an Arkansas
woman who reported that Parks raped her when she was 8-years-old. The victim is
now 40-years-old. The woman told police that Parks was babysitting her, her
brother and a friend in 1978 or 1979 at his home when the incident occurred,
Fortunato said.

According to police, the woman said that Parks encouraged
the children to play hide-and-seek, then took the victim into a bathroom,
covered her mouth and raped her. He also threatened to kill her brother and
father if she reported the incident. The victim kept her secret for years
before finally deciding to report it after she received counseling, Fortunato
reported.

When authorities arrested Parks he admitted to fondling the
victim and raping her. Authorities also reported finding evidence that
corroborated the victim's account of the rape.